1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve?
Yellow Face is a play that originated around 1990 and has been played in many different mediums across America ranging from NY to LA. David Hwang is the main character and he is also very much for the Asian American community. In the play, cultural appropriation occurs when a Caucasian tries to fulfill the role of an Asian American character which leads to yellow paint on the charecter's face which leads to an array of disputes due to the fact that this is deemed very disrespectful in the Asian American community.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Execution of Justice and how is it broken?
The intrusion is when Marcus decides to mask himself as an Asian after David realizes he is white. After this, Marcus essentially fully immerses himself into a different culture that is foreign to him. This is one of the root issues in the play.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
This is the day that David's hypocrity becomes prevalent as he complains about white actors with the Asian community. The title figures into the play as the whole discrepancy that arises within the work derives from the painting of Yellow on the character's face.
4. State the dramatic question that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will anyone find out the truth about Marcus Gee?
5. Use Hwang’s “character” to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
Marcus faces the issue of Me against myself. I feel as if he is struggling with his own cultural identity which starts off as just being a mask for a play but I feel as if a connection far more meaningful is made beyond that. Not just this, but he does not like the idea of cultural appropriation yet that is the life he is living.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Yellow Face.
The most theatrical moment in the play is when David realizes that Marcus is not Asian. Also, when Jane realizes that he is not Asian.
Yellow Face is a play that originated around 1990 and has been played in many different mediums across America ranging from NY to LA. David Hwang is the main character and he is also very much for the Asian American community. In the play, cultural appropriation occurs when a Caucasian tries to fulfill the role of an Asian American character which leads to yellow paint on the charecter's face which leads to an array of disputes due to the fact that this is deemed very disrespectful in the Asian American community.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Execution of Justice and how is it broken?
The intrusion is when Marcus decides to mask himself as an Asian after David realizes he is white. After this, Marcus essentially fully immerses himself into a different culture that is foreign to him. This is one of the root issues in the play.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
This is the day that David's hypocrity becomes prevalent as he complains about white actors with the Asian community. The title figures into the play as the whole discrepancy that arises within the work derives from the painting of Yellow on the character's face.
4. State the dramatic question that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will anyone find out the truth about Marcus Gee?
5. Use Hwang’s “character” to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
Marcus faces the issue of Me against myself. I feel as if he is struggling with his own cultural identity which starts off as just being a mask for a play but I feel as if a connection far more meaningful is made beyond that. Not just this, but he does not like the idea of cultural appropriation yet that is the life he is living.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Yellow Face.
The most theatrical moment in the play is when David realizes that Marcus is not Asian. Also, when Jane realizes that he is not Asian.